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Nepalese Gurkhas in Australia Commemorated ANZAC Day with Dawn Services and Parade

Raju Manandhar
An editor at Nepalese Australian
Nepalese Ex-Gurkhas Army and their families at the ANZAC Day 2022 parade in Sydney Australia.
Nepalese Ex-Gurkhas Army and their families at the ANZAC Day 2022 parade in Sydney Australia

Thousands of Australians have paid tribute to the country’s fallen servicemen and women in the attractive and meaningful parades held across the country after two years. Nepalese Australians under the leadership of Gurkha Nepalese Community (GNC) too joined the national celebration. Nepalese Gurkhas too turned out to dawn services as many Australians around the country gathered for this year’s Anzac Day on Monday 25 April 2022.

GNC’S Participation in ANZAC Day 2022

 GNC has been making remarkable contribution for Nepalese Gurkhas to celebrating the national event in Sydney. Approximately 50 GNC members took part in the parade. They started forming up at Chifley Square around 10 a.m. onwards. The actual march started around 11:05 am and ended around 12:30 pm After concluding the march, they went to Galli Galli for the lunch and conducted a formal session to observe one minute silence in honour of the fallen brave military servicemen and women.

The GNC President Mr Rajendra Thapa welcomed the ANZAC Day participants. Then Mr Man B. Limbu, the senior member, Mr Deb B. Gurung VP NRNA Australia, Adviser GNC, Dr Narayan Pradhan, former GNC President, Mr George Mackenzie Retd. British Gurkha Officer and Mr Michael Light Retd British Gurkha officer shared the significance and value of ANZAC Day and appreciated the efforts made by GNC executive team. Mrs Rukmani Dewan, Retd. Nursing officer also spoke about establishing a Gurkha Museum in Sydney Australia. Also, most of new participants were given the opportunity to introduce themselves and share their ANZAC Day experiences.

All the Nepalese Gurkhas from British Army, Gurkha contingent Singapore and Indian Army Gurkhas participated in this year’s ANZAC parade. The GNC founding President Mr Lokman Limbu was the Parade commander. Mr Jitman Limbu, the outgoing GNC President, Mr Pabi Subba, Ms Bindya Subba, SM Chet B. Gurung, Mr Bhagat Limbu, Mr Hari Ghale, Mr Hasan Limbu, Mr Richard, and Mrs Richard, and most of GNC family members attended the program. The actual formal part was conducted by GNC General secretary Mr Iraj Thapa.

Nepalese Gurkhas in Australia Commemorated ANZAC Day with Dawn Services and Parade

The Significance of the Day of Glory

Australia remembers the service of the veterans with annual commemorative activities. Australians and New Zealanders commemorate the day to remember those war heroes who lost their lives in military action at Gallipoli, Turkey, in the World War I. On this day, Australia annually pays floral tribute to the ancestors who served in the military service.

ANZAC Day celebrations returned to normal or to full capacity services after two years caused by the COVID-19 pandemic across the country. ANZAC Day 2020 was the previous event that commemorated the 75th Anniversary of the end of the Second World War.

Participants from The Brigade of Gurkhas at the 2022 Anzac Day.
Participants from The Brigade of Gurkhas at the 2022 Anzac Day

History of ANZAC Day

ANZAC day was the prominent campaign and tradition of the First World War. Having root in the ideals of courage, endurance and mateship was established on 25th of April 1915. Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC) landed on the Gallipoli Penisula, the European side of the Dardanelles, Turkey, in 1915–16. The Allies with heavy involvement of troops from Australia and New Zealand hoped to gain control of the strait, but the campaign reached stalemate after each side suffered heavy casualties. It commemorates their first participation in the World War I. It is the National Day of Remembrance that marks the first landing of the ANZAC at Gallipoli, Turkey in 1915–16.

National Celebration

Huge crowds converged in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin and Perth to acknowledge the sacrifice made by Australia’s military personnel while defending the national interest.

Gurkha's Commemorated ANZAC Day with dawn services and Parade.

Participants from The Brigade of Gurkhas at the 2022 Anzac Day .